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Subject:
From:
Carol Brussel <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 18 Aug 2000 00:44:49 EDT
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hey, i was just kidding, i am not training as a doula, i was just asked to
help at the birth and with breastfeeding afterwards. it is beyond my
endurance to take up yet another calling,  especially one which would have to
be practiced in the hospital, the only way i survive is to do almost all my
work away from hospitals or doctors' offices. in terms of net results, the
birth today went beautifully. the mother had a successful vbac and the baby
nursed - but with an epidural, so it had an odd lack of emotional resonance,
since she could talk and laugh between contractions, and only had two at the
end where there was  - well, not pain but it required effort. it was some
sort of conceit.

then of course despite her intentions and mine, the baby was subjected to all
the usual (okay, sorry, i can't use that word here) after the birth, not only
suctioned (bulb syringe) numerous times but the nurse shoved a tube down the
baby's throat - several times! - explaining that "the baby wouldn't be hungry
unless that awful mucus was gotten out," drops put in eyes, clothes put on
the baby covering the hands, two blankets - in response to my cues to the
mother "do you want the baby undressed so you can have skin to skin contact?"
the nurse snarled - and i do mean snarled - NO ONE LETS A BABY GET COLD
AROUND HERE.

yeah, poor little 8 pound 10 ounce baby (that is about a zillion grams, i
think) is going to freeze! i felt like kicking the cast on the nurse's foot.
they are so rough with the baby, hoisting the baby around like a sack of
flour.

and of course she is LGA - oh god, horrors, its terribly scary, isn't it? and
of course they are doing a heel stick. i simply instructed the parents and
wrote on their instructions that this is a worthless test and to CALL if
anyone comes near them with a pacifier or bottle.

and the local "lactation nurses" (no IBCLC there) were politely but pointedly
hostile, why did the mom need me when she had all of them? i refrained from
pointing out that it was because she had BEEN THERE BEFORE - no, thank you,
we don't want you to chart because you AREN'T ON STAFF HERE - hahaha, so what
do i care? you don't want any evidence that your services were spurned in
favor of mine?

so tomorrow back i go to see if the happily nursing pair i left tonight has
been sabotaged yet. dante would have written in another circle or two if he
could see this stuff in person. me, i couldn't bear to be a doula. who would
i lie to? the mom? the baby? or myself?

carol brussel IBCLC

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